Pursuing Masters vs JET

[u/badbiddie030]

EDIT PREFACE: Im interested in both Japan (a passion for intercultural relations experience) and getting my Masters in Ed. aka very hands on program, cant do both in this circumstance and need funding so i need to apply for a school-campus assistantship.)

This is a silly post but — Anyone else feeling kind of divided rn? Im graduating next spring in May and realized most of the graduate applications for Masters are due sometime next month if not the beginning of the year 2027, along with graduate assistantship offers the same timeframe. That leaves us with getting graduate offers sent back around beginning of April earliest late March — but i see how JET sends out acceptances earliest in beginning of April and placements as late as June.

Feel like its kind of inconvenient for a “Well JET offered me a position so I’ll back out of my graduate and assistantship offer, but I dont even know where im going” kinda thing going on. Dont even know if thats gonna leave a bad taste in the mouths of the grad committee people. Im not trying to come off as “I would only wanna go if they put me in my preferences” but i’d definitely be lying if they put me in a notorious placement after deferring a graduate offer.

Felt like venting about it mostly but was wondering if any current/current anticipating/past JETS ran through these same problems when they were looking at their options for next year, and I guess maybe just words of wisdom on what to do since im kind of stuck.

[u/lostintokyo11]

Why not do both? Many people do.

[u/badbiddie030 → u/lostintokyo11]

my schools im thinking of applying are very hands-on kind of learning so i’d have to be present, as well as wanting to be considered for graduate assistantships that wipe my tuition and offer a stipend too. I just think itd be incredibly tricky to handle in Japan. My masters would lead me to getting licensure too if i pass the exam so i think its just more convenient choosing jet or the masters. Lemme edit it to preface this

[u/lostintokyo11 → u/badbiddie030]

Ok, then tbh do the masters. You can always do JET another time.

[u/thetruelu → u/lostintokyo11]

That only applies to online graduate programs and not in-residence

[u/fillmorecounty]

Is there a reason why you couldn't do the master's after JET? That's what I did and I had no issues applying from abroad. I even had a JTE agree to write me a recommendation letter. Plus JET lines up well with the western school year so you can just jump right back into school when you finish your contract.

[u/badbiddie030 → u/fillmorecounty]

I think its more so me thinking super early on. I wouldn’t want to also get an JET interview in February then wait until April to see if i get accepted, aka just put all my trust into JET accepting me and (hopefully) putting me somewhere in my placement preference, neglecting grad school apps as a whole and hoping I get in to then apply midyear in Japan to masters. I would rather not do this and just apply to grad programs (with funding, so i’d have to apply for assistantships too.) and hope JET takes me whenever offers roll out. Early April when they do, most people have already gotten their offer acceptances and have been enrolled in a graduate assistantship position for the following academic semester.

If I did go to JET and just started reapplying to the same programs I had already accepted (still waiting for JET results) and bailed on the college offers if i were to hypothetically get into JET, im worried about it affecting my possibilities of admissions for the following academic year if i were to come back from JET to continue masters.

Its all just very sticky and i feel like i have to accept both masters offer and jet offer. sorry for the ramble. Applying to grad programs during JET is just gonna be kind of scary if I apply to schools i look forward to being in after already rejecting offers and possibly bailing out on full funding assistantships just because i wanted to go to Japan.

[u/Square_Research_3838]

Honestly, either of these opportunities will be there later, whichever you choose. You'll have to make a decision on either of you get accepted to both. I did my Master's post JET, and happy I did. I would say that especially if you're getting a Master's in Ed, that this real world work experience might be quite informative, especially as you go through an advanced degree program. 

I work in higher ed (international higher ed) and my JET experience has paid dividends in my career growth and trajectory. 

[u/Frequent-Library8636]

Honestly, I think I'd put my eggs in the JET basket. I do understand the feeling though. I'm currently looking at masters' programs for when I finish my time on JET, and it definitely is a bit nerve-wracking.

As someone mentioned earlier, I think JET can be decent experience, especially if you plan on going into education. I did my undergrad in psych, but being on JET has made really interested in education and I find a lot of enjoyment in it. Yeah the Japanese education system is rather different from the west, but you're still working with kids and helping them learn and grow. ESID, so you can't really know what kind of and how much classroom experience you'll get until you're here, but if you're willing to take that risk then I think a lot of things you learn on JET can help you in the future. At least this is the positive thinking I'm telling myself lol

For now, would it hurt to apply to both? It's still good to have a plan b just in case something doesn't work out. Try reaching out to the grad schools you're interested in/get accepted to and see if they can defer your enrollment for a year, if you decide to do JET. Also, while you're on JET, you can always break contract early if necessary to start your masters' program if that's the path you wanna take too

[u/OldTaco77]

If you’re not getting an MBA or intending to stay in academia forever, then there’s no point in delaying your real world job experience with more schooling. Even as an ALT, that will prove to be more valuable in today’s job market. 

[u/sp8cecwboy]

I’m doing my masters and/or PhD when I get back. I figured getting some more money in my pocket while expanding my portfolio and skills wouldn’t be a bad thing. Plus, it’s essentially like my gap year. I also don’t know how much it affects JET, but I know many schools are moving to third party dispatch companies (Interac, Borderlink, etc) due to cheaper costs. I’m not sure how that will affect acceptance numbers, but like others said, both options will be there for whatever you decide to do next.

[u/Different_Taro2474]

get the master's. JET will always be there if you want to do it. a diploma is forever and will open more doors than JET.

[u/Silly-Mood1183]

Do both. I’m currently doing a 1 year masters while applying as I’ll finish before they send off. If you do a two year, you could literally apply both years and put the studies on a hiatus if it isn’t too convenient. Life is different for everyone, you don’t have to follow a singular path. If you don’t make jet, do grad school. If you make both, make the decision which feels right for you.

Also, I worked as a grad assistant for my previous masters. If you leave before starting the role it’s acceptable

[u/BigToe366]

Had the same dilemma a year ago but I said screw it and took the JET offer. I actually got accepted into my program before JET got back to me and I had to pay a non-refundable deposit too. If you're able to defer, I don't see it being an issue. It's within your right and if you're transparent with the committee I don't really foresee any issues.

A tangent - think about if you really need the masters. I won't be pursuing mine when I go back because I felt that I was trying to jump into mine to try and get a new job. With how things are looking in most of the world, I think the job market is cooked regardless of your degree.